Upcoming Macs to support 802.11ac, suggests OS X code

An upcoming edition of Apple's MacBook Pro may include support for 802.11ac.

(Credit: Apple)

Macs of the near future may be able to tap directly into high-speed 802.11ac networks.

Code for the latest OS X 10.8.4 beta includes a string with the term "802.11ac channel," according to Apple-focused blog 9to5Mac. This appears to be the first reference to 802.11ac in OS X since the term does not show up in the code for OS X 10.8.3, the current version of Apple's OS.

Past rumors have suggested that Apple would be one of the early adopters of 802.11ac, equipping its laptops and tablets with the higher-speed Wi-Fi standard. Apple's Time Capsule, Airport Base Station, and other networking products would also support 802.11ac. Reports have suggested that Apple is working with chipmaker Broadcom to implement the new technology.

As the latest Wi-Fi flavor, ... [Read more]